SWINTON LIONS 52 NEWCASTLE THUNDER 10
IAN RIGG, Heywood Road, Sunday
RETURNING centre Jayden Hatton claimed a hat-trick of tries as rampant Swinton scored nine in total to move into second spot in the table.
Newcastle went close in the opening stages, but Tyler Walton was unable to control the ball.
The Lions opened the scoring on eight minutes when Hatton, back at the club from Featherstone, found a gap to send Frank Sergent in wide out. Jack Stevens converted.
Three minutes later they were in again when Gav Rodden went from acting halfback to feed Stevens and he passed to George Roby, who went over for anther improved score.
Hatton went over by the posts, with Stevens again adding the goal.
Stevens was then the victim of an illegal tackle. From the resulting penalty, Swinton scored again when Alfie Sinclair put Stevens over to the left of the posts and he added the conversion.
After the try there was some fighting and Thunder’s Walton was shown a red card.
Newcastle got on the scoreboard on the half-hour when Elliot Shaw kicked and Jake Dickinson notched and added the goal.
But Swinton responded when Jordan Paga broke to feed Jonny Openshaw, and he scored under the bar with Stevens again adding the extras.
Ethan Fitzgerald then crossed in the right corner, too far out for Stevens to be able to strike from the tee.
Newcastle started the second half well, putting pressure on the Swinton line, but the defence held them out.
Hatton and Openshaw created an attack, but the ball was lost on the last play.
The visitors should really have had a second try on 57 minutes, when Will Lintin went over on the left, but he lost the ball as he tried to score.
They did however notch three minutes later when Brad Ward latched onto a nice kick by Shaw to score in the left corner, however Dickinson was unable to convert.
Following a penalty which provided good field position, Jordan Brown scored by the posts for Swinton after 63 minutes, Stevens improving.
Five minutes later, Hatton scored his second, powering down the left before cutting in, with Stevens’ conversion again good.
Sergent had a chance, only for the ball kicked towards him to bounce over his head.
Newcastle had another opportunity with the clock winding down, but again poor handling was costly.
And on the last play of the game, Swinton hit the half-century when Hatton broke through to complete his hat-trick between the posts, leaving a straightforward kick for Stevens.
GAMESTAR: Jayden Hatton was strong in attack and scored three tries in a great return to the Swinton side.
GAMEBREAKER: The Lions six first half tries laid the platform for victory.
MATCHFACTS
LIONS
1 Louie Roberts
30 Ethan Fitzgerald
34 Jayden Hatton
17 Adam Jones
25 Frank Sergent
6 Jack Stevens
14 Jordan Paga
15 Jordan Brown
9 George Roby
20 Jamie Reddecliff
11 Gav Rodden
29 Trent Kelly-Duffy
33 Alfie Sinclair
Subs (all used)
24 Jonny Openshaw
23 Danny Lynch
16 Finley Beardsworth
36 Jake Davies
Tries: Sergent (8), Roby (11), Hatton (17, 68, 80), Stevens (24), Openshaw (34), Fitzgerald (37), Brown (63)
Goals: Stevens 8/9
THUNDER
1 James Farrar
2 Jake Dickinson
5 Sean Croston
3 Myles Harrison
4 Brad Ward
6 Charlie Yeomans
7 Elliot Shaw
8 Toby Gibson
9 Tom Siddle
17 Harry Price
11 Alex Taylor
12 David Weetman
13 Tyler Walton
Subs (all used)
14 Will Lintin
16 Lloyd Hall
15 Leo Bradley
– Matt Handy
Tries: Dickinson (30), Ward (60)
Goals: Dickinson 1/2
Dismissal: Walton (24) – fighting
SCORING SEQUENCE: 6-0, 12-0, 18-0, 24-0, 24-6, 30-6, 34-6; 34-10, 40-10, 46-10, 52-10
Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Lions: Jayden Hatton; Thunder: Elliot Shaw
Penalty count: 9-2
Half-time: 34-6
Referee: Andy Sweet
Attendance: 725